In America, we value emotional expression, especially in young girls. Many countries in Eastern Asia such as Japan, Russia, and China, believe strong emotions disrupt group harmony which leads them to suppressing these emotions.
These variations in socio-cultural norms and expectations shape children's early dispositions of self-regulations of emotions, and influence how they react to social situations and regulate their behavioral and emotional reactions, especially in challenging circumstances (Ang 2025).
Emotions differ between cultures but what about physical development? Cultures that practice babywearing, carrying a baby in a wrap or sling attached to the body, tend to show later milestones such as walking and crawling (Gupta 2019). Most academic research shows that these cultures hit these milestones past the "normal" age, but that range is based on American babies, a culture that values independence and early development.
It is obvious that different skills, behaviors, and timelines are valued between cultures, so how do we handle this? The simplest answer is education and knowledge. A Korean family living in America will have a different timeline than the standard American family, and that is okay. These differences need to be talked about, especially in research, and made socially acceptable.
Next time you see a infant that cannot yet walk, think about the possibilities for why they aren't walking yet before you judge.
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